Spread spectrum communication system

Abstract: A spread process is performed with a spread code assigned to each user and a spread code assigned according to an attribute and the resultant signal is modulated on the transmitter side. On the receiver side, a transmitted signal, modulated in the above manner, is subjected to an inverse spread process with the attribute-oriented spread code from a reception spread code generator, the resultant signal is subjected to an inverse spread process with the user-specific spread code from the reception spread code generator, and those signals undergone the inverse spread processes are demodulated by data demodulators to extract desired information together with a desired signal corresponding to a wide band service. It is therefore possible to simplify the management of the individual users and individual services and facilitate the system design.

Description: The present invention relates to a spread spectrum communication system and, more particularly, to a spread spectrum communication system which uses communication signals modulated based on the spread spectrum. A spread spectrum communication system permits a plurality of users to perform communication while sharing one wide frequency band on the time and spatial basis, has a large system capacity per bandwidth and is resistive to interference. Thus such communication system is receiving attention as a solution to the existing excessive concentration of electric waves. In such a spread spectrum communication system, a specific spread code is assigned to each user to discriminate signals for that user and spreading is carried out by using the spread code on the transmitter side. Inverse spreading (despreading) is conducted on the receiver side by using a copy of the spread code used in the spread spectrum. FIG. 1 shows an example of a modulating circuit on the transmitter side in the spread spectrum communication system. A transmission signal and a spread code, which is specific to the user who uses a concerned terminal and generated from a spread code generator 1, are supplied to a mixer 2. The mixer 2 performs a spread process on the transmission signal with the spread code, and sends the resultant signal to a modulator 3. The modulator 3 executes spread-modulation to produce a carrier frequency signal and sends it to a power amplifier 4. The power amplifier 4 amplifies the carrier frequency signal to a proper level and sends the amplified signal to an antenna 5. FIG. 2 shows an example of a demodulating circuit on the receiver side in this spread spectrum communication system. A carrier frequency signal, which is received by an antenna 11 and amplified by a radio frequency amplifier 12, and a local oscillation signal output from a first local oscillator 13 are supplied to a first mixer 14 which mixes both signals to produce a first intermediate frequency signal. The first intermediate frequency signal is put through a first bandpass filter 15 to become a first intermediate frequency signal of the desired band. This first intermediate frequency signal is sent to a second mixer 16. The second mixer 16 also receives a local spread signal that is obtained by mixing a local oscillation signal output from a second local oscillator 17 and a spread code output from a spread code generator 18, which specifies the receiving user, by a local mixer 19. The second mixer 16 performs a mixing process (inverse spread) on the first intermediate frequency signal and the spread signal to produce a desired narrow band signal (second intermediate frequency signal). This second intermediate frequency signal is sent to a second bandpass filter 20 to eliminate the unnecessary signal component, yielding a desired signal. The desired signal is then sent to a demodulator 21, which demodulates the desired signal to extract desired information by means of a conventional scheme (digital modulation or analog demodulation such as FM demodulation). To properly carry out communication between the transmitter and the receiver, this spread spectrum communication system requires that the spread code set on the transmitter side should coincide with the spread code set on the receiver side, and that, in addition, those spread codes should differ from those for the other channel users who also use this communication system. Besides, in the spread spectrum communication system, a spread code which is used in wide band services such as an image transmission, a high speed data transmission etc. has a longer code period than that of a spread code which is used in narrow band services such as a voice transmission, a low speed data transmission etc.. In the spread spectrum communication system, individual services need their spread codes assigned uniquely to individual users. Even for the transmission of signals of different bandwidths, the spread codes are also specific to the individual users. If the number of users and/or the number of services is increased, the managing system for the users and services which are managed together as well as the management of those spread codes becomes complicated. Thus, the system design becomes complex as a consequence. WO 92/00639 discloses a system and method for generating signal waveforms in a CDMA cellular telephone system. A cell-site transmit modulator is disclosed having two PN generators receiving a sector or cell address and generating sequences relating respectively to the in-phase and quadrature channels. The transmitter further includes a PN generator for generating a unique PN code. Further, a cell-site receiver is disclosed comprising two PN generators for generating in-phase and quadrature channel PN sequences, and further comprising a PN generator for generating a user PN code. All signals transmitted by a cell or one of the sectors of the cell share the same outer PN code for the in-phase and quadrature channels. It is the object of the invention to provide a spread spectrum communication system and method, and a transmission station and a receiving station, in which the management of users and services is simplified. This object is solved according to the invention as claimed in claims 1, 11, 16 and 24. Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims. The invention allows for simplifying the management of the individual users and individual services and for facilitating the system design. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a spread spectrum communication system comprising a transmission station having first spread code output means for outputting a first spread code assigned to each user, second spread code output means for outputting a second spread code assigned according to an attribute, spread processing means for performing a spread process of information signal with the first and second spread codes, and transmission means for transmitting a signal processed through the spread process by the spread processing means; and a receiving station having inverse spread processing means for performing an inverse spread process on a signal transmitted from the transmission station with the second spread code and performing an inverse spread process with the first spread code on a signal obtained through the inverse spread with the second spread code, and demodulation means for demodulating the signals processed through the inverse spread processes by the inverse spread processing means. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a spread spectrum communication system comprising a transmission station having first spread code output means for outputting a first spread code assigned to each user, second spread code output means for outputting a second spread code assigned according to an attribute, spread processing means for performing a spread process of information signal with the first and second spread codes, and transmission means for transmitting a signal processed through the spread process by the spread processing means. According to a still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a spread spectrum communication system comprising a receiving section having inverse spread processing means for performing an inverse spread process on a signal transmitted from the transmission station with the second spread code and performing an inverse spread process with the first spread code on a signal obtained through the inverse spread with the second spread code, and demodulation means for demodulating the signals processed through the inverse spread processes by the inverse spread processing means. In the present invention, the transmitter side performs a spread process of information signal with the first spread code assigned to each user and the second spread code assigned in accordance with an attribute, and transmits the signal obtained through the spread process. The receiver side performs an inverse spread process on a transmitted signal with the second spread code, performs an inverse spread process on the resultant signal obtained through the inverse spread process with the second spread code, and demodulates those signals undergone the inverse spread processes. This system can allow each user to receive the desired service according to the first and second spread codes, and can separately manage the spread code according to the attribute of each service and the spread code according to each user. This invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of a modulating circuit on the transmitter side of a conventional spread spectrum communication system; FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of a demodulating circuit on the receiver side of the conventional spread spectrum communication system; FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of a modulating circuit on the transmitter side according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of a demodulating circuit on the receiver side according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of a filter circuit which can be used in the demodulating circuit in FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of a spread code generator which can be used in the demodulating circuit in FIG. 4; FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of another spread code generator which also can be used in the demodulating circuit in FIG. 4; FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of another modulating circuit on the transmitter side; and FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of another embodiment of a communication system of the present invention which comprises both transmission circuit and reception circuit. (Principle of the Invention) First, the concept of the present invention will be described. In a spread spectrum communication system, the number of allowable users M, a process gain PG, the ratio of a desired signal and an undesired signal after inverse spread process D/U, the ratio of an input desired signal and an undesired signal (before the inverse spread process) C/N, and reception power P of respective signals have the relationships given by the following equations (1) and (2). In this case, the number of users which can be contained is maximum when signals sent from respective users have an equal reception power P, and such conditions are assumed. (D/U) = PG · (C/N) (C/N) = P/(P · (M-1)) (D/U) can be expressed from the above equations (1) and (2) as follows: (D/U) = PG/(M-1) Therefore, the number of users which can be contained can be obtained as follows: M = 1 + PG/(D/U) For example, the number of users which can be contained will be considered in the following manner where numerical examples are specifically determined as follows: a spread bandwidth is 10 MHz; a band for a narrow band service is 5 KHz; a band for an intermediate band service is 25 KHz; a band for a wide band service is 500 KHz; (D/U) required for narrow and intermediate band services is 7.8 dB (≒ log 6); and (D/U) required for a wide band service is 4.8 dB (≒ log 3). When the spread bandwidth 10 MHz is assigned only to the narrow band service, the processing gain PG is 2000 (= 10 MHz/5 KHz) and the number of users thereof is 334 (≒ 1+2000/6). When the spread bandwidth 10 MHz is assigned only to the wide band service, the processing gain PG is 20 (= 10 MHz/500 KHz) and the number of users thereof is 7 (≒ 1+20/3). In the present invention, for example, the bandwidth 500 KHz of the wide band service stated above is assigned to the narrow band service or the intermediate band service, and the channels (the number of channels = the number of users) of the wide band service are used as a measure for classifying the attributes of services or the likes. When the bandwidth 500 KHz of the wide band service stated above is assigned to the narrow band service, the processing gain PG is 100 (=500 KHz/5 KHz), and therefore, the number of users thereof is 17 (= 1+100/6). In addition, when the bandwidth 500 KHz of the wide band service stated above is assigned to the intermediate band service, the processing gain PG is 20 (= 500 KHz/25 KHz), and therefore, the number of users is 4 (= 1+20/6). It is assumed that the wide band service is used as a measure for classifying the attributes of services, one of the number of users, 7, can be used as a signal to transfer various kinds of control information and information such as notice information while the remaining six can be used as a signal to constitute the attributes of six groups. If the attributes of those six groups are all assigned to the narrow band services, 17 users for each of six groups constitute a total of 102 users for the narrow band services. If the attributes of a half of the six groups are assigned to the intermediate band services and the attributes of the remaining three groups are assigned to the narrow band services, 4 users for each of three groups constitute a total of 12 users for the intermediate band services and 17 users for each of three groups constitute a total of 51 users for the narrow-band services. With this structure, therefore, each user can receive the desired service by setting a spread code for discriminating each user and selecting one of six kinds of spread codes that indicates the attribute of the desired service. In other words, spread codes are assigned user by user in the conventional spread spectrum communication system, whereas the present invention forms hierarchical spread bands corresponding to spread codes in spread spectrum communication, specifically assigns first spread codes to individual users who share the same attribute, such as the same service, and assigns a second spread code to the attribute of a common service, so that various kinds of services can be determined by the bandwidths of information to be transmitted. For instance, a high speed data transmission and an image transmission are assigned as the wide band services, a data transmission and a facsimile transmission are assigned as the intermediate band services, and a voice transmission and a low speed transmission are assigned as the narrow band services. Other attribute classification schemes include grouping by users in a common organization and grouping by users who share a place. (First Embodiment) FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate schematic structures which specifically accomplish the above-described concept of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows a modulating circuit on the transmitters side of a spread spectrum communication system according to the first embodiment. The modulating circuit comprises a mixer 31, a first spread code generator 32, a second spread code generator 33, a mixer 34, a modulator 35, a power amplifier 36 and an antenna 37. In the modulating circuit on the transmitter side shown in FIG. 3, when a transmission signal (information signal) is supplied to the mixer 31, a spread process is performed based on a spread code, which is supplied from the mixer 34. The resultant signal is subjected to spread modulation in the modulator 35, producing a carrier frequency signal. The carrier frequency signal is amplified to a proper level by the power amplifier 36 and the amplified signal is then sent to an antenna 37. In this case, the spread code supplied to the mixer 31 is what is obtained by mixing a spread code from the first spread code generator 32, which produces spread codes specific to individual users, with a spread code output from the second spread code generator 33, which produces spread codes assigned according to the attributes, so that the service desired by each user is assigned. The mixer 34 may also be composed of a modulo-2 adder. The bit rate (or chip rate) of spread codes specific to users outputted from the first spread code generator 32 should preferably be equal to a value obtained by multiplying the bit rate of information signals by an integer. In addition, the bit rate of the attribute-oriented spread codes outputted from the second spread code generator 33 should preferably be equal to a value obtained by multiplying the bit rate of spread codes specific to users by an integer. For example, when the spread bandwidth is set to 10 MHz, as has been described above, and the band is used as a measure for classifying attributes, the bit rate of the spread codes specific to users is 500 Kbps (500 KHz) and the bit rate of the attribute-oriented spread codes is 10 Mbps (10 MHz). In this setting, the services which users can receive are services of narrow band data in which information signals have a bit rate of 5 Kbps (5 KHz) or services of intermediate band data in which information signals have a bit rate of 25 Kbps (25 KHz). In addition, when control information or notice information is transmitted, the bit rate of such information is 500 Kbps (500 KHz) and therefore, control is performed such that spread codes are not generated from the first spread code generator 32. FIG. 4 shows a demodulating circuit on the receiver side of the spread spectrum communication system according to the first embodiment. The demodulating circuit comprises an antenna 41, a radio frequency amplifier 42, a first local oscillator 43, a mixer 44, a first bandpass filter 45, a second local oscillator 46, a reception spread code generator 47, mixers 48 and 49, a second bandpass filter 50, a data demodulator 51, a reception controller 52, a third local oscillator 53, mixers 54 and 55, a third bandpass filter 56, a data demodulator 57. In the demodulating circuit on the receiver side shown in FIG. 4, when a carrier frequency signal is received at an antenna 41, this carrier frequency signal is amplified by the RF amplifier 42 and then sent to the first mixer 44 to be mixed with a local oscillation signal from the first local oscillator 43, outputting a first intermediate frequency signal. The first intermediate frequency signal is put through the first bandpass filter 45 to become a first intermediate frequency signal of the desired band. The reception spread code generator 47 outputs an attribute-oriented spread code corresponding to the attribute of the service that is needed by the receiving user. This attribute-oriented spread code is supplied to the mixer 48 to be mixed with a local oscillation signal from the second local oscillator 46. The resultant signal is supplied to the mixer 49 to be mixed with the first intermediate frequency signal provided by the first bandpass filter 45, producing an inversely-spread second intermediate frequency signal. This second intermediate frequency signal is put through the second bandpass filter 50 to become a second intermediate frequency signal of the desired band. This second intermediate frequency signal is the desired signal that has been filtered in accordance with a wide band data service. The second intermediate frequency signal corresponding to the wide band data service is supplied to the data demodulator 51. If this second intermediate frequency signal is a signal corresponding to the control signal or information, it is demodulated by the data demodulator 51 and output to the reception controller 52. The reception controller 52 judges contents of information transmitted from the data demodulator 51. If the information is judged as a control information to control the data demodulator 57, as described later, then the reception controller 52 controls the data demodulator 57 based on the content of the information. If the information is determined as information such as notice information, then the reception controller 52 outputs such information to relevant circuits (not shown). For an intermediate band data service or a narrow band data service, the second intermediate frequency signal is further processed. In this case, the second intermediate frequency signal is supplied to the mixer 55. Under this circumstance, the reception spread code generator 47 outputs a user-specific spread code. This user-specific spread code is supplied to the mixer 54 to be mixed with a local oscillation signal from the third local oscillator 53. The resultant signal is supplied to the mixer 55 to be mixed with the second intermediate frequency signal provided by the second bandpass filter 50, outputting an inversely-spread third intermediate frequency signal of the desired narrow band. This third intermediate frequency signal is supplied to the third bandpass filter 56 to eliminate the unnecessary signal component. The resultant signal is sent as a desired signal to the data demodulator 57. Under the control of the reception controller 52, the data demodulator 57 demodulates the desired signal according to the conventional demodulation scheme (digital demodulation or analog demodulation such as FM demodulation) to extract desired information. To properly carry out communication between the transmitter and the receiver, it is needless to say that the spread code set on the transmitter side should coincide with the spread code set on the receiver side, and that those spread codes should differ from those for the other channel users who also use this communication system. According to the first embodiment, when a user wants to receive the desired service, the first spread code specific to the user and the second spread code assigned to the service attribute are selected and spread processing is performed with those spread codes in the modulating circuit on the transmitter side, while a signal obtained through an inverse spread process with the second spread code is demodulated to discriminate the service attribute and a signal obtained by performing an inverse spread process on the signal, inversely spread with the second spread code, with the first spread code is demodulated to extract a desired information signal. The user can therefore receive the service according to the first and second spread codes. As the spread code according to the attribute of each service and the spread code according to each user can separately be managed, the management of the individual users and individual services can be simplified and the system design can become easier. If the high speed data transmission and the image transmission are assigned as the wide band services, the data transmission and the facsimile transmission are assigned as the intermediate band services, and the voice transmission and the low speed transmission are assigned as the narrow band services, those services can be used effectively as desired by each user. Although the demodulating circuit on the receiver side has a more complex structure than that of the conventional demodulating circuit, the output of the bandpass filter 50 has a frequency of as high as 500 KHz, which can be handled sufficiently by the existing digital signal processing technology. Further, the demodulating circuit can be designed as a digital circuit, the somewhat complex structure does not stand in the way of achieving the present invention. FIG. 5 shows a filter circuit which can be used in the demodulating circuit in FIG. 4. For example, a demodulating circuit may be arranged so as to replace the bandpass filter 56 shown in FIG. 4 with the filter circuit 61 in FIG. 5. The filter circuit 61 can selectively use one of the first bandpass filter 61a for narrow band data and the second bandpass filter 61b for intermediate band data, by switching the switch circuit 61c. The switching control of the switching circuit 61c can be carried out by the reception controller 52 in FIG. 4. If the demodulating circuit is arranged as stated above, data transmitted from the transmitter side can be securely received and demodulated at the receiver side if, prior to data transmission, only either information notifying the receiver side of whether narrow band data or intermediate band data is to be transmitted as data, or control information indicating which one of bandpass filters 61a and 61b is to be selected is transmitted from the transmitter side. Specifically, in the demodulating circuit having the arrangement as stated above, the reception controller 52 decides the contents of the above-mentioned information or control information transmitted prior to data transmission, and controls the switch circuit 61c on the basis of the decision results, thereby to select one of the bandpass filters 61a and 61b. Therefore, data transmitted from the transmitter side can be securely received and demodulated. FIG. 6 shows a spread code generator which also can be used in the demodulating circuit in FIG. 4. In addition, the demodulating circuit may be arranged such that the reception spread code generator 47 in FIG. 4 is substituted with the spread code generator 62 shown in FIG. 6. The spread code generator 62 shown in FIG. 6 comprises a first spread code generator 62a for generating spread codes specific to users, second to fourth spread code generators 62b to 62d for respectively generating different attribute-oriented spread codes, and a switching circuit 62e for selecting one of the second to fourth spread code generators 62b to 62d in accordance with an operation of an external manual switch 63. By replacing this spread code generator 62 with the reception spread code generator 47 shown in FIG. 4, a spread code specific to a user which is generated by the first spread code generator 62a is directly outputted to the mixer 54 shown in FIG. 4, and an attribute-oriented spread code generated by one of the second to fourth spread code generators 62b to 62d selected in accordance with the external manual switch 63 is outputted to the mixer 48 through the switching circuit 62e. FIG. 7 shows another spread code generator which also can be used in the demodulating circuit in FIG. 4. The spread code generator 64 shown in FIG. 7 comprises a first spread code generator 64a for generating spread codes specific to users, a second spread code generator 64b for generating attribute-oriented spread codes, first to third spread code memories 64c to 64e for respectively storing different attribute spread codes, and a switching circuit 64f for connecting one of the first to third spread code memories 64c to 64e to the second spread code generator 64b according to the operation of an external manual switch 65. By replacing the spread code generator 64 with the reception spread code generator 47 shown in FIG. 4, a spread code specific to each user which is generated by the first spread code generator 64a is directly outputted to the mixer 54 shown in FIG. 4, whereas an attribute-oriented spread code generated by the second spread code generator 64b, i.e., an attribute-oriented spread code stored in one of the first to third spread code memories 64c to 64e which is connected to the second spread code generator 64b through the switching circuit 64f is outputted to the mixer 48 shown in FIG. 4. When the demodulating circuit is arranged as stated above, attribute-oriented codes to be supplied to the mixer 48 of FIG. 4 can be switched by operating the manual switch 63 or 65. Therefore, when a plurality of transmission stations are broadcasting different information programs, it is possible for the user to select and receive any of these programs. FIG. 8 shows a structure of another modulating circuit on the transmitter side. Further, the modulating circuit in FIG. 3 may be arranged as shown in FIG. 8. The modulating circuit shown in FIG. 8 is arranged so as to separately perform the information modulation and the spread modulation which are carried out at the same time in the modulator 35 shown in FIG. 3. Specifically, in the modulating circuit shown in FIG. 8, first a modulator 71 modulates a carrier signal having an appropriate frequency by transmission signal e.g., digital data or an analogue signal using e.g., a digital modulation scheme such as PSK or an analogue modulation scheme such as an FM modulation. A frequency converter 72 converts the frequency into a carrier frequency. The carrier frequency signal thus subjected to a frequency modulation is the same as a carrier frequency signal outputted from the modulator 35 in the modulating circuit shown in FIG. 3, is amplified to an appropriate level by the power amplifier 36, and is thereafter sent to the antenna 37. Although it has not been clearly described in the above explanation to embodiments, it is needless to say that each of stations of the transmitter side and receiver side may comprise both of a transmission circuit (modulator) and a reception circuit (demodulator). (Second Embodiment) FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of a communication system according to the second embodiment comprising a transmission circuit and a reception circuit. In FIG. 9, a transmission circuit (modulation circuit) 81 corresponds to the modulator 35 shown in FIG. 3 and a reception circuit (demodulation circuit) 82 corresponds to the demodulator circuit 51 or 57 shown in FIG. 4. The transmission circuit 81 and the reception circuit 82 are connected to a single antenna 84 through a duplexer 83. A control section 85 consists of a CPU, for example. The control section 85 is connected to a key input section 86, a display device 87, and a memory 88, in addition to both of the transmission and reception circuits 81 and 82 stated above. The control section 85 performs various controls, e.g., a first control for displaying data inputted from the key input section 86 or information (i.e., data, notice information or the like) received by the reception circuit 82 onto the display device 87 and storing the data or information into the memory 88; a second control for transmitting data inputted from the key input section 86 or data read out from the memory 88 to the transmission circuit 81, as transmission data (i.e., transmission signals) and outputting the transmission data through the transmission circuit 81; a third control for outputting audio signals inputted from a microphone 89 as transmission signals through the transmission circuit 81; and a fourth control for outputting audio signals received by the reception circuit 82 to a loud speaker 90. As described above, the transmitter side performs a spread process with the first spread code assigned to each user and the second spread code assigned in accordance with an attribute and modulates the signal obtained through the spread process. The receiver side performs an inverse spread process on a transmitted signal with the second spread code, performs with the first spread code an inverse spread process on the resultant signal obtained through the inverse spread process, and demodulates those signals undergone the inverse spread processes. This system can allow each user to receive the desired service according to the first and second spread codes and can separately manage the spread code according to the attribute of each service and the spread code according to each user. It is therefore possible to simplify the management of the individual users and individual services and facilitate the system design.

Claims: A spread spectrum communication system comprising a transmission station and a receiving station, the transmission station having: first spreading code output means (32) for outputting a first spreading code assigned to discriminate each user of the communication system, said first spreading code being a user code different from other spreading codes; second spreading code output means (33) for outputting a second spreading code assigned according to a service attribute of the communication system; spreading means (35) for spreading an information signal with said first and second spreading codes; and transmission means (36, 37) for transmitting said information signal spread by said spreading means; the receiving station having: first despreading means (49) for despreading said information signal transmitted from said transmission station with said second spreading code; second despreading means (55) for despreading said information signal despread by said first despreading means with said first spreading code; and demodulation means (57) for demodulating said signals despread by said second despreading means The system according to claim 1, wherein said service attribute is assigned according to a kind of a transmission service provided by the communication system. The system according to claim 1, wherein the service attribute is assigned according to a kind of information to be transmitted. The system according to claim 1, wherein the service attribute is assigned according to a band width required by an information being transmitted. The system according to claim 1, wherein the service attribute is determined such that a certain group of users belonging to respective common organizations can be identified. The system according to claim 1, wherein the service attribute is determined such that a certain group of users placed in respective common locations can be identified. The system according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second spreading code has a chip rate which is higher than that of said first spreading code. The system according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second spreading code has a chip rate which is an integral multiple of that of said first spreading code. The system according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first spreading code has a chip rate which is higher than the bit rate of the information signal. The system according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first spreading code has a chip rate which is an integral multiple of the bit rate of said information signal. A transmission station for use in a spread spectrum communication system, comprising: first spreading code output means (32) for outputting a first spreading code assigned to discriminate each user of the communication system, said first spreading code being a user code different from other spreading codes; second spreading code output means (33) for outputting a second spreading code assigned according to a service attribute of the communication system; spreading means (35) for spreading an information signal with said first and second spreading codes; and transmission means (36, 37) for transmitting said information signal spread by said spreading means. The transmission station according to claim 11, wherein said communication system is arranged according to one of claims 2 to 10. The transmission station according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the first spreading code output means (32) is means for selectively outputting a desired spreading code from a plurality of first spreading codes, and the second spreading code output means (33) is means for selectively outputting a desired spreading code from a plurality of second spreading codes. The transmission station according to one of claims 11 to 13, further comprising means for inhibiting spreading of said information signal based on said first spreading code, whereby said information signal is spread with only said second spreading code. The transmission station according to one of claims 11 to 13, further comprising means for transmitting notifying information having a bit rate which is identical to a chip rate of said first spreading code under a condition wherein said first spreading code is inhibited to be output. A receiving station for use in a spread spectrum communication system, comprising: despreading means (49, 55) for despreading an information signal with a second spreading code assigned according to a service attribute of the communication system, and for despreading with a first spreading code said information signal obtained through despreading with said second spreading code, said first spreading code being a user code different from other spreading codes and being assigned to discriminate each user of the communication system; and demodulation means (57) for demodulating said information signal despread by said despreading means. The receiving station according to claim 16, wherein said communication system is arranged according to one of claims 2 to 10. The receiving station according to claim 16 or 17, further comprising filter means for filtering the information signal despread by said despreading means, said filter means comprising a plurality of bandpass filters, wherein said receiving station comprises means for selecting a bandpass filter of said plurality of bandpass filters. The receiving station according to claim 18, wherein selection is based on a notifying signal transmitted by said transmitting station before transmission of said information signal. The receiving station according to one of claims 16 to 19, further comprising means (51) for demodulating said information signal obtained through despreading with said second spreading code. The receiving station according to one of claims 16 to 20, further comprising means for outputting selectively plural kinds of said second spreading codes, and despreading said information signal transmitted from said transmitting station based on a second spreading code output from said outputting means. The system according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein said transmission station is arranged according to one of claims 13 to 15. The system according to one of claims 1 to 10 or 22, wherein said receiving station is arranged according to one of claims 18 to 21. A communication method employing two kinds of spreading codes in a spread spectrum of information signals, the method comprising the steps of: setting one of said two kinds of spreading codes as a user identification spreading code for identifying respective users of the communication system independently, and setting the other of said two kinds of spreading codes as a service identification spreading code for identifying a communication service; spread-modulating said information signals by employing said two kinds of spreading codes in a transmission station, and then transmitting the spread-modulated information signals from said transmission station; and despreading said spread-modulated information signals in a receiving station by employing said service identification spreading code, and thereafter despreading the despread information signals by employing said user identification spreading code so as to result in said information signals. The method according to claim 24, wherein the communication system is arranged according to one of claims 1 to 10 or 22 or 23.

Inventors: MIYAKE MASAYASU, MIYAKE, MASAYASU, MIYAKE, MASAYASU, C/O PATENT DEP., DEV.DIV.
Applicants: CASIO COMPUTER CO LTD, CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: H04J13
IPC codes: H04J13